Sea anchor apparatus



- L. P. FRIEDER ET AL SEA ANCHOR APPARATUS Jan. 2, 1951 '5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 25, 1948 ATfUENEY Jan. 2, 1951 P. FRIEDER ETAL SEA ANCHOR APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1948 JNVENTORS ram. MM ATTUENEY Jan. 2, 1951 P. FRIEDER ETAL SEA ANCHOR APPARATUS IN V EN TOR.

ATTUENEY Patented Jan. 2, 1951 cum-3o sures PATENT OFFICE? "Leonard a Fe Great Neck; and. Walter s. Einken, Brooklyn',-. N.- Y.; said Finken assignor Applicatibnl ehruary 25, 19%8, Serial No. 10594 This invention relates to s'ea anchors. and moize particularly to the provision of improved gear-for such apparatus, 1. e; comprising a linearrangament which may be conveniently describedia painter andwhich serves to secure the: anchor to i the vessel for the desiredretarding function. Although structures or the sort herein. disclosed are applicable-to a variety of usesand-to' emhodie ment with anchorsof varioustypes, the: improved painter is of special utility incombination-with a sea anchor having a parachute-like: canopy, preferably asea anchor of thecharacter disclosed in our copending patent. application Serial-1 No. 633,351,, filed December 7,..1945.

Although sea anchors have long been used for various purposes, especially to; stabilize or hold a: ship under abnormal. conditions or sea and weather or under other distress, conditions,.;a special problem has usualy beeninvolv'ed in dis abling the anchor, i. e-twhen itbecomes no longer desirable to keep the latter in: dragging relation to: the vessel. Common experience. reveals for instance even in relatively small boats powered bymotor or sail, that once a sea -anchor'is-payed out andhas extended itself, it is; practically impossible tohaul in the anchor, e; g. ;hy manual pull. Under such circumstances release of the anchor can only be achieved upon completely disabling its connection, as by cutting; the painter line; and of course under such circumstances the anchor itself is almost invariably-lost and; must later be replaced as apartof the shipls equip,- ment. Furthermore, with sea anchorsoi types commonly used heretofore the only, available function has been to provide a drag ineaisingle direction, for example directly astern -ofl the ship, and thus it has not-been possibleto make any; eff-ective change in the heading or course: oithe vessel while the anchor was in play.v

Accordingly, an important object of the. present invention isto make: provision, inapparatus of the character. described and by means include ing a novel painter arrangement, whereby a sea anchor may be released or rendered inoperative at-a desired time-and: yet may remain connected to the ship-in such condition: that it can behauled aboard for re-use. A further object is to provide new and improvedsea anchor apparatus that is effectively secured to: the: vessel for the-intended retarding function and-2 that can. be: disabled at r will without loss of any equipment and particullarly without exertion of anyextraiordinary, manual or other force.

Another specific: object of: the invention: lSntO provide apparatusoithe:character:statedtinclud gls blaimsa (cum- 209):

- 2 ing a painter arrangement" for sea anchors; such thatcapsi'z'e of thean'chor canopycan be achieved at adesired-time by the agency ofthedragging force'itself i. e. so" that the anchor remains stable as long asit is needed, but acts to spill it- 'selfupona simple releasing operation.

Further objects are to" provide equipment of the character described wherein more accurate and positive connection of the sea anchor is achieved, permitting it to extend automatically and precisely in a desired relation to the vessel and to the heading ofi the latter; and. to: provide such apparatus wherein the position or attitude of the anchor'may be: adjusted, preferably with the aid' or' agency of the dragging force, so as to achieve a. steering effect for the vessel.

Other objects are: the provision of improved structure for sea anchor painters, specifically in the attachment of loops or other connections-to the lines, and more generally in the arrangement ofv thepai-nter', as by subordinate loops or the like, for ready attachment to a; vessel; and the provision, in such lines and accompanying anchor securing means, or structure normally cooperating to maintain the anchor and the several lines in proper position without fouling, such structure beingyreadily and automatically disabled when it is 'desired to alter the normal position; as for release of the anchor. Another and primary object of the invention isto afiord a remarkably simple painter arrangement, with a cooperative and highly efficient sea anin combination chor, whereby: the latter may be relieved of its strain, or subjected to a-partial spill or a change indirection of drag, without applying any a-p- .preciable force.

'lZo-these and other ends, including such. as will become apparent-or are incidental: to the use of structures of the character disclosed, certain presentlypreferred: embodiments of the invention are set forth by way of-exam-ple the following description: and the accompanying draw- Iings which: will therefore serve to illustrate the 3 of the painter, illustrating further features and also a somewhat modiiied structure of securing means;

Fig. 5 is a purely diagrammatic plan view somewhat like Fig. 1, but illustrating certain further ieatures, including the operation of the anchor to provide a steering effect;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of a painter embodying the present invention, with certain layers or parts cut away to illustrate the novel splicing arrangement; and

Fig. 7 is a view of the painter section shown in Fig. 6, but without any portion cut away and with the structure in a preferred, completed form.

It will be understood that generally speaking, a sea anchor has heretofore comprised a canopy or sail arranged with a plurality of short connecting lines to be secured at the end of a long single line which in turn is fastened to the vessel, the whole assembly being intended to be submerged so that, for example as the vessel is driven by the wind, the anchor deploys and in uses, not only in conditions of distress but also otherwise when it is desired to retard a boat or ship without constant maneuvering or without use of the normal motive power of the given vessel, it being understood that the term vessel is used herein to indicate any of a wide .variety of kinds and sizes of boats, ships, rafts or other objects with which a sea anchor can be employed.

While the invention is applicable to different types of anchors per se, the drawings are intended to represent, by way of example, the presently preferred structure of our aforesaid application Serial No. 633,357, with which the improved painter arrangement cooperates to achieve certain specific as well as general advantages. Referring, then, to Fig. 1 the anchor itself comprises a fabric canopy I having a truly hemispherical shape, e. g. made of sections so cut, proportioned and sewn together that the structure assumes and retains substantially exactly the configuration of a hemisphere, when the device is deployed in use. The canopy It has a suitable hem [2 to which are secured, at regularly spaced localities, a multiplicity of shroud lines here divided into two groups l3, M, for reasons more fully described below. The shroud lines are adapted for attachment to a painter or load line structure so that the canopy may bloom in proper fashion under the water,

with its axis in a more or less horizontal position or at least at a considerable angle to the vertical.

In further accordance with the preferred structure of the cited copending application, the

canopy may carry a weight l at its apex, and

appropriate floating or buoyant sections may be provided in other parts of the complete assembly, for example in the painter, as also described below; these features cooperate to provlde a rapid and efiective deployment of the anchor when it is originally payed out, and also to maintain the depioyed anchor in optimum, submerged, holding relation. A sea anchor comprising a hemispherical canopy arranged as described has been found to be remarkably efficient, affording a, maximum drag or retarding action for its size and Weight, and having a remarkable stability, e. g. against forces which might tend to capsize or disable anchors of other types.

In accordance with the present invention, the shroud lines of the anchor are divided into a plurality of groups, preierably two very unequal groups, and a plural painter arrangement is .provided, i. e. comprising lines extending seplinked a pair of loops I9, 20 of a dual painter arrangement generally designated 22.

' A notably satisfactory construction for the .dual painter is in effect a single line arranged in an elongated U-shape providing a pair of painter elements or lines 23, 24 terminating respectively in the loops I9, 20. For securing the painter to a vessel 25, e. g. at the bow or stem .depending upon the direction in which it is desired to have the anchor exert its retarding .efiect, means are attached to the lines 23, 24,

at some distance from the apex of their common return bend 26, for example a corresponding pair of loops 28, 29 which can be disposed around an appropriate post 21 or the like on the ship. While expediency may warrant the use of other means in some circumstances, or indeed permit the individual line or lines to be simply hitched (as by equipment on the vessel) ate in maintaining optimum conditions. For instance each painter line 23, 24 may include a plurality of spaced buoyant elements 30 (and others not shown), and buoyant disks 3|, 32 may be respectively associated with the groups of shroud lines near the apex of each, to keep the shrouds spaced in proper relation and to afford a lifting force for the desired positioning effect of the anchor. It may be noted, in passing, that in the drawings dimensional fidelity has been somewhat disregarded for clarity of illustration, and that the actual size, length, spacing or other characteristics of the several arts should be selected to suit the circumstances of use, as will become readily apparent to those skilled in th art.

For use of the anchor the loops 28, 29 are passed over the post 21 with the loop 28, that is attached to the greater shroud cluster [3, upper- -most, and the bend portion 26 is allowed to lie slack, although preferably passed around the post as shown. The anchor I0 is then payed out, and

promptly becomesin'flated, so to speak, assuming its'desired submerged position (beneath the wameans:

tee-surface :m to exert the intended strong drag on the ship as shown Figs. 1 and 2. It at a later time it isdesired todiscontinue use of the anchor, all that'is necessary is to remove the nppermostloop- 28, as by pushing it. upward until it'f'alls away from the post 21;, or in extreme emergency simply by cutting it away. 'lheline. 23 is thus released, and likewise the retaining iorce on the shroud lines I 3, so thatthe anchor canopy promptly capsizes, with the aid of. the pressure 1 of the water on the major. part. of the canopy to which the lines: 13 are connected, the other part: of the canopy being still. pulled by the lines HI and '2 4. The apparatus thus automatically assumes the condition rep-resented in Fig. 3, with its dragging force on the vessel efiectiv-ely extim- ,g-uished. 'Ifhcreupon the equipment may bereretrieved without effort, 1. e. merely by hauling in the painter in such manner asnot'to permitany redeployment of the canopy.

'l-o effectuate a complete capsize of the canopy and thus full release of the. anchor when one loop 29 is secured and the other allowed to run out. from the vesselin the manner: described above. the length. of the return bend portion 25 in the painter line between the loop connections should; be at least about equal to the deployed diameter of the. canopy, and may indeed advantageously be. somewhat longer; By permitting the bend: to. lie. loosely around the post. 21 or other securing means, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an additional. precaution is obtained against loss of the anchor should the loops fail because of chating. over along time or should the second loop. 29 be freed. in somev way after the first. one has been disabled.

It: will now be obServedt-hat in the operation above'described, the. entire. force necessary to cap;- sizez-or: deflate the anchor is in eiiect: furnished by thedrag of the-anchor itself,.and. yet. in its. operative and secured. relation as actually shown in Figs. 1; and. 2., the anchor is positively connected and held in the proper position, in: accordance with. the predetermined location of the loops28, 28 on the. painter lines, and without requirihgany particular care. or judgment on. the: part. of at;- tendantpersonne-L.

To: keep the shroud clusters of the canop in proper relation. and. to avoid impairment of the tullydeveloped. disposition of the canopy In by reason; of any tendency of the painter elements tolmove. apart. transversely, alight line 38, for instance a light. cotton cord, .is tied. between the disks 3|, 32. Such connection forms. aweak or impermanent link whichis adequate. for the. urposejust-described; yet upon. release of. either line of the painter relative to the other; the drag .force; of. th anchor (in bringing about its: own partial: or complete spill) positively moves. the shroud clusters longitudinally relative to. each other, and the strain on the line 38' at the inccpztion of such motion will break the line 38, so that thereis no interference with completion of the-relative movement .for release or other desired purpose. Likewise; to prevent fouling or" one tanglement, with other parts: of the; anchor or of the vessel, especially during launching, ot the anchor, the two lines 23, 24 ma be lightly tied together in spacedrelation by suitable threads 3.9, 3.3.; When. stress. is. applied. longitudinally of? the painter elements relative to each other, the;im.- permanent links. constituted by the threads 39 immediately break and permit. the desired. change of. condition of the canopy l0. Itwill be under. stood that. by reason of the.- impermanent and 6 readily-'severabl'echaracter of the links 38', 39 the painter assembly between the anchor and; the vessel. may be accurately characterized as comprising plural lines extending separately and tree from each other throughout the stated distance.

For greater reliability of operation, especially where the shroud lines are. simply threaded through holes in the float disks 3|, 32 sothat the latter might slide longitudinally of the lines, a

pair of snubber lanyards 41-, 42 are respectively connected between the disks and their attaching loops II, l8, as shown in- Fig. 4; The lanyards ii mltlthe movement-of the disks from the apex or the shroud lines, and thus serve as retainers to prevent-the shortening of theshrouds angularly with respect to the hem of" the canopy, i. ate keep them from being drawn in toward the axis of the: latter. i

' Whereas for some purposes, as in the case of smallanchors, a usefulstructure maybe obtained with the shroud. groups t3, t4 containing equal numbers of'shroud' lines, a specific and preferred feature of the invention is to have a. substantial inequality between the numbers of shroud lines the two clusters. For instance as. shown in Figs. 1 to- 4 the. group [3 contains sevenlines, while the other group- Hi embodies the-remaining; threea Advantageously the painter line which to remain secured to the vessel when theother line is castv oil or' otherwise: disabled, should not be attached to thecanopy by more than. two to four'shrouds, and it is ordinarily preferable that the other line connect with at least about three fourths or so. of the total number of shroud lines, for instance in the relation illustrated or indeed with morethan three-fourths of the'ent'ire numher; 'Withthis constructiona very large area of the canopy is freed by the simple operation of? disabling the line. 23, and not only does; the anchor capsize promptly, in. effectspilling sub stantially its whole surface as. shown in Fig. 3:, but also since. very little of the canopy remains in distended relation,.the manual or otheropera tion. of drawing; the anchor and its gear inboard is-a-ccomplishedeasily and with a. minimumoi efiort. If: desired to avoid confusion, the line'fl which. is. to-be. cast ofi for the. describedirelease of the. anchor may beappropriately identified. as color or-other marking (not shown), -e-..g.- at. or adjacent. therloop 28.

An alternative means for attaching; the painter structure to the vessel. is shown in. Fig.4, and compri'scsbranchlines 43, 4.4 respectively spliced to the painter lines 23, 24' instead. oi the loops. in Figs. 1 110.3. The branches 43', 44 may be secured to a cleat or pair of cleats, e. g. close to the splices; andfor release of'the anchor,the branch line 43 is very readily cast oii, an easier operation (than to remove" aloop) when only a cl'cat or like device-is available-for fastening. The return bend 26 may; of course, serve itssame safety'function and also serve to retain the released cluster of shroud lines in their slackened condition, all as described above.

A further featureof the invention resides in its provision for accomplishing a steering operation; (n.--cther change in: heading or attitude of the vessel, more specifically; with adjustment or: con.- trol of the: amount and direction or spiltof the canopy-1,. he. a partialll spill-,xwhereby theianchor canbemadetb yaw'in a:selected.direction..- Such effect. is accomplished, in. principle; lay-changing the relative lengths: of the painter lines; prefer.- ably for example by selectively.- slacklng ofi one line: or. thectherto apredetermined small. extent.

7 It will be appreciated that letting out either line requires no substantial effort.

For instance when using gear of the sort illusv,trated in Fig. 4, one of the branch lines 43, 44 may be simply slacked off to a slight extent, and then re-secured. The resulting condition is shown in the diagrammatic plan view of Fig. 5 (somewhat distorted for illustrative emphasis), where the painter lines are provided both with fastening loops 45, 46, and with supplemental branch splices 41, 48. Specifically with this construction, by snubbing the line 4! around the post 21 (or an adjacent cleat, not shown) at the time of original attachment or later, it is then possible to release the loop 45 and permit one side of the canopy to fallback, relative to the other, to the short extent designated 58. The result is a small, partial spill of the canopy and in consequence of the angular difference between the new axis of the canopy and the direction of the painter lines, a turning moment is created, tending to change the heading of the vessel, e. g. in a direction opposite to the painter lead whose length was affected.

By the same token, such turning moment may be interrupted by restoring the original squaredoflf position of the anchor, i. e. by slacking off the other painter line 24 or otherwise re-establishing equal lengths for the lines. Thus the other line can be let out to the required extent by releasing the loop 46-cutting it if necessary-and resecuring the line by means of the branch 48.

If a turning moment in the opposite direction is wanted, the line 24 can be correspondingly or further payed out, either directly by slacking off on the branch 48, or by releasing the loop 45 in the manner just described if it has not already been disabled. With instrumentalities of this sort, the anchor can be employed to furnish a drag steering, so to speak, in situations where the vessel has lost its rudder or a propeller. ,Not only may the heading of the vessel be changed, but the turning tendency of the unbalanced anchor may in some circumstances be employed to counteract an opposite and undesired effect, e. g. due to natural conditions, or to peculiar damage of the ship, or the like.

4 It will be understood that the steering operation may be achieved in other ways, e. g. by other arrangements for adjusting the relative disposition of the painter elements. Thus in the case of large vessels and seaanchors of corresponding magnitude, the branch lines 43, 44 are apt to be too cumbersome for simple manual handling, but the described operations can be performed very satisfactorily by winches or other suitable tackle or gear which the ship may carry for hauling in or slacking off a loaded line.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a particularly advantageous manner in which connecting elements such as the loops 23 and 29 may be spliced to the painter body with the latter continuing in effect as a single line, e. g. around the bend 25, although it will nevertheless be understood that other splices or attachments may be employed while still realizing the general advantages of the improved painter. In the structures of Figs. 6 and 7, the line or cord of which the painter and its loops is fashioned conveniently compri'ses a tubular, braided line of nylon or other 1 suitable material. Nylon line of this character is extraordinarily strong and durable, and resistant to the influences which tend to deteriorate other cordage at sea. It may also be noted that the splicing structure described below avoids the use of knots or hitches, which are apt to constitute points of weakness.

As will be apparent from Fig. 6 the line portion 23 and the return bend 26 are in actuality separate lengths of cord, the loop 28 being fashioned at the extremity of the line portion 23. More specifically the loop 28 may first be completed by forming the necessary bight and then disposing the end 55 of the line telescopically within the standing part of the line 23, the end 55 being conveniently inserted between temporarily separated strands of the braided tubular fabric as at 56 and pushed into the interior of the standing part, in a direction away from the bight, or more preferably drawn several inches within the portion 51 by the aid of a suitable instrument which can in turn be withdrawn through another temporary separation in the tubular housing. Thereupon the now loop-ended line 23 may be drawn telescopically into, through and out of a portion 58 of the return line 26, the strands of the tubular fabric of the latter being parted for such purpose at 59, 60. To complete the splice in a firm and secure relation an outer or extreme portion 62 of the return line 26 is then inserted and drawn into a portion 63 of the main painter line 23, such portion 63 lying on the other side of the portion 51 from the loop 28. It will be understood that the described telescopic relationships may be achieved by carrying out the operations in other sequences, but in any event the ultimate relation of the several sections or portions of line to each other is peculiarly snug and secure, and exertion of force lengthwise of any continuing line serves only to tighten the telescoping parts against each other, particularly by virtue of the braided nature of the cord. While arrangements of other dimensional values may be employed, depending upon the conditions of service, it has been found that for many purposes each telescopic overlap will be eminently satisfactory if it has a length 0 eight to twelve inches.

Fig. 7 shows the completed splices in external view, but with the widths and diameters of the line portions somewhat exaggerated. Preferably each terminal region of a telescoped connection, i. e. each junction of the splice, is moused to prevent fraying or accidental separation in service. Thus as shown in Fig. 7, mousing may be provided at the localities 65, 66, 61 and 68, i. e. binding each outer tubular fabric around the locality where another portion of tubular cord enters the outer member.

Conveniently other loops and connections of the painter assembly may be secured by similar splices. For example, the loops [9 and 20 may be fashioned in an identical manner to the arrange ment of the loop 28 at the end of the line 23, with suitable external mousing; and it will of course be understood that the construction of the loop 29 is conveniently the same as that shown in-Figs. 6 and 7 for the loop 28, and likewise the arrangement of the branch lines 43 and 44 relative to the main painter lines and the return bend 26 in Fig. 4. splices of this character have been found peculiarly rugged, and yet compact and highly flexible, so that they are adapted for easy handling under all conditions of service.

It will now be seen that the present invention provides improvement in sea anchor equipment in a number of respects, and in particular, affords a novel arrangement of painter or like gear whereby the anchor is 'not only effectively secured in its desired, retarding condition, but may be mesa-sec released or upset, so :as'to. spill dragresistance, at any desired time and without actual loss of the anchor body, ,Furthermore, provision isma-dev for realization of an effective steering operation with a sea anchor, especially of the described type, and thus the function and utility of such devices are correspondingly extended. Finally, the novel painter construction is relatively simple and inexpensive, easy to manufacture and yet capable of long and reliable service.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments herein shown and described, but may be carried out in other forms without departure from its spirit as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

'1. In combination with a sea anchor comprising a hemispherical canopy-made of flexible ma terial and having a flexible hem edge and having a multiplicity of shroud lines attached to said hem edge at spaced localities around said hem edge, painter means for securing said anchor to a vessel at a desired distance therefrom, comprising" a plurality of linesrespectively connected to separate, greatly unequal pluralities or said shroud lines and adapted to extend separately to the vessel and'to be there fastened to maintain the anchor in extended, operative condition at said distance.

2.1m combination, a sea anchor having a canopy of flexible material and having a flexible hem edge, two groups of shroud lines connected to said hem edge at respectively different regions, said regions respectively including localities laterally spaced by the diameter of said hem edge, and painter means for the anchor, comprising a line which is disposed in U-shape and thereby constitutes a pair of line elements, said line elements being connected at their remote ends respectively to said groups of shroud lines of the sea anchor and being thereby connected to said anchor at said laterally spaced localities, for support by each of said line elements of a substantial portion of the load of said anchor, and a pair of connecting means respectively attached to said line elements at points which are remote from the aforesaid ends and which are separated from each other, around the bend of the U, by a distance at least as great as the lateral spacing between the aforesaid connecting localities of the sea anchor.

3. In combination a sea anchor having a canopy of flexible material and having a flexible hem edge, and painter means for the anchor, comprising a line which is disposed in U-shape and thereby constitutes a pair of line elements, said line elements at their remote ends respectively having means respectively connecting said line elements to the hem edge of the sea anchor at laterally spaced localities, and a pair of loops respectively attached to said line elements at points near the bend of the U, separated by a distance at least as great as the lateral spacing between the connecting localities of the sea anchor.

4. In combination with a parachute-type sea anchor having a canopy of flexible material and having a flexible hem edge and having a multiplicity of shroud lines connected to said hem edge at spaced localities around said edge, painter means comprising a pair of lines adapted to extend separately to a vessel to which the anchor is to be secured, each of said painter lines being connected to a corresponding plurality of shroud lin s, one 9 s P nt r l nes be ng tau- I10 nected to a substantially greater number or shroud lines than the other.

5.1:: combination with a sea anchor having a hemispherical canopy of flexible material and having a flexible hem edge and a multiplicity of shroud lines connected to said hem edge at spaced localities around said edge, painter means comprising a pair of lines adapted to extend separately for securing the anchor, one of said painter lines being connected to not more than about one fourth of the shroud lines and the other painter line being connected to not less than'ab'out three fourths of the shroud lines.

6. In combination with a sea anchor having a hemispherical canopy of flexible material with a flexible hem edge and having a multiplicity of shroud lines therefor, divided into two greatly unequal clusters each having a separate apex, painter means comprising a pair of lines respectively fastened to the clusters of shroud lines and adapted to extend separately to a locality remote from the anchor, and means attached to the lines at said locality for securing the lines to a vessel to hold the canopy in extended position with its axis approximately parallel to the lines.

7 The combination of claim 6 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a pair of loops respectively attached to the lines at equal dise tances from the canopy, and wherein the painter means includes a line connecting the aforesaid lines between the localities of attachment of the loops and having an extent at least as great as the width of the canopy.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a pair of branch lines respectively attached to the first-mentioned lines at equal distances from the canopy, and wherein the painter means includes a line connecting the first-mentioned lines between the localities of attachment of the branch lines and having an extent at least as great as the width of the canopy.

9. A painter for a sea anchor, comprising a pair of lines adapted for connection to the anchor at one end of each and having a corresponding pair of loops at the other end of the lines, said lines having a line connection at their said other end between the localities of attachment of the loops to constitute the lines of a continuous U-shaped element, both of said lines and said line connection comprising tubular cords, each loop comprising a bight in its line and having the end of the bight telescopically and rearwardly disposed Within a portion of the standing part of such line through an opening in said standing part, said last-mentioned portion of each line passing telescopically within a portion of the line connection through substantially spaced apertures in the latter, and each end of the line connection being telescopically and rearwardly disposed in the adjacent line through an opening in the latter on the other side of said spaced apertures from the loop.

10. In a painter or the like in combination, a line of braided tubular cord having a loop at its extremity, the end of line being telescopically disposed within a portion of the standing part of said line, and a second line of braided tubular cord, the aforesaid portion of the first line passing telescopically within a portion of the 'J'second line spaced from the end of the second line, and the end portion of the second line being telescopically disposed within another portion of the first line on the other side of the firstmentioned portion from the loop, whereby said lines are spliced together with each other and with the end and standing part of the loop, to constitute in efiect a continuous knot-free line having an integrally attached loop, and in each of said telescopic dispositions each passage of the inner, telescoped line section through the wall of the cord which is the outer, enveloping line section, being constituted by passage of the inner section between separated, unbroken strands of said wall, all of the strands of such wall remaining intact at each locality of such wall passage.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 which includes means extending from one plurality of shroud lines to the other and including a readily separable connecting element, for impermanently tying said shroud line groups to each other, in spaced relation, at localities near their connections to the painter lines, said connecting element being separable in response to displacement of one painter line lengthwise relative to the other, to permit mutual separation of the shroud line groups when one of the painter lines is released from attachment to the vessel.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the connecting element comprises a light line extend- ,ing between the shroud line groups and adapted to break under the force of drag of the anchor portion which is connected to the released paint- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES. PATENTS Number Name Date 75,614 Woodmansee Mar. 17, 1868 619,982 McCombs et al. Feb. 21, 1899 861,478 Ottignon July 30, 1907 1,386,971 Summers Aug. 9, 1921 1,965,570 Binnie July 10,1934 ,474,124. Schultz June 21, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,180 Great Britain 1890 2,628 Great Britain 1884 4,475 Great Britain 1883 15,699 Great Britain 1890 176,406 Great Britain Mar. 7, 1922 A 226,851 5 -Great Britain Dec. 30, 1924 496,440 France Aug. v4, 1919 OTHER REFERENCES Seamanship, by S. B. Luce, 6th ed., 1877, plates 10 tom. 

